How to use this Page

I will get right to it. The update today is to announce the new design of my website.


The goal was to deliver something light and fresh. All of the key points are there and link across a variety of social media. It is an active site which will constantly be updated from the blog, Facebook and Twitter.

One of the most exciting things is the new MillerWords store.


Follow the Order link to connect with the official Square store. Currently, all of my paperback books are available with free shipping and a personalized autograph. We are in the process of adding hand-made jewelry and all of my eBooks. (the link to the store is also at the top right of this blog)

I invite you to visit the links and follow me on Facebook and Twitter. As always, your feedback is most welcome in the comments below.

Thanks for stopping by!

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I have added new art in my Imagekind store. I will also be adding new products to my Zazzle store this week.

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http://www.cafepress.com/eles

Pues sí, abrí una nueva tiendita en CafePress.com de animalitos lindos :P



Acá algunos de los productos que pueden encontrar: camisetas, sudaderas, ropa para bebé, fundar para Ipad y Ipod, botones, stickers, gorras, cuadros decorativos, tazas, accesorios, tazón para mascota, tarjetas, bolsas, postales, imanes, etc.


Well, I just opened a cute little animals new shop at CafePress.com.

Here are some products you can find there: T-shirts,  sweatshirts, baby clothes, Ipad and Ipod cases, buttons, stickers, caps, prints, wall decor, mugs, accessories, pet bowls, cards, bags, postcards, magnets, etc.

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Hi Everyone

I just wanted to let you know I opened up a new Etsy store called Keri Dawn Studios. I will be selling pocket mirrors, pins, magnets, coasters, prints, etc. with all of my illustrations on them. So far I have uploaded some pocket mirrors and pins. I will be adding new items each day, so please keep checking.

Here is the link:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/keridawnstudios

Thanks

Keri

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Very often I am asked if a print of an illustration I have created is available for sale.  Most of the time it is part of a book, and cannot be offered for sale.  However, there are some illustrations that are available.  I have put them in a STORE on my website.  Most are separate from any book I have illustrated, and more items will be added later.

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I have added my “Japan” piece to my Redbubble shop. You can purchase cards, prints, framed artwork etc. A portion of my proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders. Thank you!

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I thought I'd try out a different venue - hopefully one that sees a little more traffic than my usual little corner of the web... so I went and opened an Etsy shop! Several originals from my website and all but one of the prints have been relocated to the new shop. A few new originals have been added to the listings as well.


What's even better is that many of the originals that were previously listed on my site have been deeply discounted for the holidays! Come visit and check out some of the offerings:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/phpeacock

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New products are in my store, just in time for Halloween!

Invitations

Stamps (coming soon!)

Greeting Cards

Trick Or Treat Bags

Please visit my Zazzle store here to see all of these great new products!

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Ahhh! So much to do this week and for many weeks ahead!

Taking some time off from juggling work and work and..WORK to express my uncontainable excitement in the upcoming launch of the Boutique! I’ve still got a lot of things to iron out in the weeks ahead before that happens but its definitely taking shape! And hopefully will be ready of its official launching just in time for Halloween! YAYAYAY! Also with this I decided to revamp the portfolio and blog just so everything looks consistent so be sure to come back for those updates soon too.

Happy happy Thursday!

Only 2 days away from my bday! WEE!

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 I know. You don't have to say it. It's been forever since I posted here. Whew. Now that we got that outta the way, we can move on to my shameless plug. There's customs and original art. More stuff is in development. By all means stop by the Jim Store, and for Pete's sake, have fun!

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This past weekend, our visitors perused a selection of past Please Touch Museum Book Award winners and voted on their all-time favorite. Thanks to everyone who voted!

The winning book is…I Love Our Earth by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson, illustrated by Dan Lipow.


I Love Our Earth was selected as the winner of the 4 to 7 year old category for the 2007 Book Award. In this book, Martin and Sampson’s text celebrates the natural splendor of our Earth and the diversity of its inhabitants (both human and animal). While simple on the surface, their rhyming text conceals a great love and appreciation for our planet. Lipow’s photographs are varied in subject and traverse the globe; from alpine mountains to the backyard. They prominently feature not only our world’s beauty, but also kids from around the world, showing that no matter how different our daily lives are, we all have pretty much the same stuff on the inside.

Original photographic prints, on loan from the book’s illustrator Dan Lipow, are currently on display at the museum and will remain in the Etch-a-Sketch Display Case until May 4, so be sure check them out during your next visit!

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With the purchase of my new Wacom Intuos 4 I was given the privilege of a Free Cafe Press Premium store.... however ... there is always the "however." Because I once had a store I had to pay for a long time ago, I got into some kind of LOOP and couldn't get past the PAY ME page.

I even designed a child's sneaker. If they approve the design that will be for sale too.

I had a lot of fun even it nothing gets sold... and I will most likely design something for everyone in my family. ( and buy it for them) Now isn't that going to make Zazzle happy!

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 If you went through my closet you would find name brands like Kenneth Cole, Cole Haan, Coach, Michael Cors, Prada, Bianca Nero, etc… The list goes on and on of name brands found all over my bedroom. It reads like a who’s who fashion magazine. One would probably think that I have a very good job making loads of money, or that I am a superficial clothes whore…But, I’m Not. I just know how to shop and shop well.

 The truth of the matter is that I everything I own, practically, comes from the thrift store. What? Yes, you heard me right. Every brand I mentioned came from the thrift store. Now if you are a reality television hound and have seen the show Southern Belles: Louisville, there was an episode with one of the “Rich” women going to the thrift store with her other “Belle” friend. The “Rich” woman was so put off by the place it was almost snobbish. The friend, who is considered a “Belle” on the show was just so down to earth and lovable. When her “Rich” friend went shopping, she bought four things from a boutique and spent $1000. You heard me right folks. She didn’t even bat and eye. The “Belle” was in disbelief. So that is when she took her “rich” friend shopping…thrift store style. And would you figure, the “Rich” lady didn’t buy a thing. She didn’t even really touch anything either. Oh my, I think I’ve got the vapors, is probably what she was thinking.

 A thousand dollars could get you a whole lot of stuff anywhere if you use it right. If you gave me a thousand dollars to spend at a thrift store, I could fully furnish a a home for a family of four, including clothing and food. No, I so am not kidding. And if there is anyone out there reading this who would like to see this happen, give me a thousand dollars and observe. You would be very impressed. Oh, and I would give you your change back too.

 If you are on a really tight budget, but enjoy having name brand things, this is the way to go. You have to have an open mind and patience though. People who are easily irritated should not shop a thrift store alone. Trust me I have seen women at thrift stores by themselves for the first time. It is not a pretty sight. They look lost and confused and you just want to give them a candy bar or something to distract their feelings of blah. It is so sad.

 I personally am the cheapest of the cheap. I am not cheap on quality. I do hold out for the better quality items, but even still, if I find the price a bit much. I will decline. The whole thing about thrifts stores is that you’ve got a good chance of finding the same thing over again somewhere else if you pass it up. Some things I do know are a once in a lifetime deal though. My most fabulous find yet is a pair of Michael Cors Bamboo Platform Wedge Heels for $4.00. They were probably worn once. Those shoes new were probably upwards of $100. or more. I usually won’t spend $4. on shoes, but these were a true find. A lot of times the higher end designer items are considered unknowns in the thrift store world. It takes a fashion worldly pricer/sorter to know what they’ve got. In this case, they just didn’t know. All of my Coach purses are from the thrift store. I don’t just buy any Coach purse either. Just because I see Coach in a thrift store, I don’t go crazy. Nine times out of ten the purses are in fabulous condition and depending on my mood, I will spend the money. Since Coach is a well known name, people know what they have and price it accordingly. The most I have ever spent on Coach is maybe $3.00. Trust me, there is a lot of Coach out there in thrift store land and you will see the prices range from $20-$60. Even at those prices, you are getting a deal.

 When you go to a thrift store it is best to have a plan. If you are going there for the first time, you should bring a friend. It helps if your friend is already into thrift stores, but if not, it is okay. Even two first timers would be able to be supportive of each other in this venture. If you go into a thrift store “blindly” you are just going to be too overwhelmed. You would probaly walk in then walk right out. Just like with anything new, it can be scary.

 Sometimes the word thrift store brings up images of well worn clothing, uncleanliness, and filth. Some thrift stores look more like boutiques or department stores. They are organized, clean, and some even have free coffee and donuts. Clothes are separated by category, size, and even color. But thrift stores are more than just clothing and shoes. You can find furniture, books, appliances, household goods, electronics, computers, jewelry, and even cars. Yes, even cars. The majority of thrift store items come via donation. People who donate are given a tax deductible form. This way they can claim it on their taxes as a write off. So the items that they want to make big claims on are high dollar items. Cars and boats bring in a good chunk of change. Sometimes you may get a fixer upper, but most of the time you get a good used car for much less than some private owners would sell.

Image via Wikipedia

 Some of the other items I mentioned like jewelry and computers are also great finds for shallow pockets. I love real silver jewelry. I can not get enough of the stuff. A lot of times the sorters and pricers are unaware of the jewelry they have and mark it according to whether they feel it will sell or not. In doing this they do not look closely enough at the marks on a piece. A lot of times, they don’t know what they are looking at anyway. When it comes to silver, real silver, they have a several different stampings to signify that it is real. If the sorters and pricers don’t know, they just don’t know. I have gotten a lot of beautiful pieces for under a dollar. They even have some jewelry that they sell in bulk just because they can not untangle it or whatever. Now a day you can sell scrap and broken gold or silver jewelry and make some money from your thrift store finds. I know I have.

 Computers. A lot of thrift stores now have people who are know how to work on computers. Most computers donated to thrift stores are just “older” versions. And just because they are “older” doesn’t mean that they don’t work. If you see a computer at the thrift store, they usually have them set up so that you can see they work. A lot of times you can buy a complete set up for under $200. That’s a great. I mean unless you are going to do some crazy high tech stuff. These computers will do the job. They are usually internet ready, have dvd/cd rom, have a version of Windows installed that might not be the newest, but just a step down, and are just the right thing if you want good basic capabilities.

 Did I mention discounts? Yes, even thrift stores have discounts. The volume of items donated can far surpass the amount sold. In this case thrift stores will have sales, clearances, and even sometimes free offers. Most thrift stores have a color tag, or day discount system. Depending on the color tag, or day is what your discount  will be. You may get 50% off the tag price, or maybe buy one get on free on Wednesday. Some places offer “bag sales”. This is where you are able to fill a bag up with anything in the store for a set price. Seasonal clearances are always happening and is the best way to save and get ready for the next year. Even better still is the “free table”. One of my favorite thrift stores has a free table. Yes, you can take whatever you want from that table. And boy, do they have some great stuff too. You just never know what you may find.

 So, if you have read this entire article, I suggest that you look up some of your local thrift stores and check them out. Not only will you find some great items, but you will be saving money. In the long run it will help out yourself and support your local thrift store. By doing this who knows what it will do for the economy

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 If you went through my closet you would find name brands like Kenneth Cole, Cole Haan, Coach, Michael Cors, Prada, Bianca Nero, etc… The list goes on and on of name brands found all over my bedroom. It reads like a who’s who fashion magazine. One would probably think that I have a very good job making loads of money, or that I am a superficial clothes whore…But, I’m Not. I just know how to shop and shop well.

 The truth of the matter is that I everything I own, practically, comes from the thrift store. What? Yes, you heard me right. Every brand I mentioned came from the thrift store. Now if you are a reality television hound and have seen the show Southern Belles: Louisville, there was an episode with one of the “Rich” women going to the thrift store with her other “Belle” friend. The “Rich” woman was so put off by the place it was almost snobbish. The friend, who is considered a “Belle” on the show was just so down to earth and lovable. When her “Rich” friend went shopping, she bought four things from a boutique and spent $1000. You heard me right folks. She didn’t even bat and eye. The “Belle” was in disbelief. So that is when she took her “rich” friend shopping…thrift store style. And would you figure, the “Rich” lady didn’t buy a thing. She didn’t even really touch anything either. Oh my, I think I’ve got the vapors, is probably what she was thinking.

 A thousand dollars could get you a whole lot of stuff anywhere if you use it right. If you gave me a thousand dollars to spend at a thrift store, I could fully furnish a a home for a family of four, including clothing and food. No, I so am not kidding. And if there is anyone out there reading this who would like to see this happen, give me a thousand dollars and observe. You would be very impressed. Oh, and I would give you your change back too.

 If you are on a really tight budget, but enjoy having name brand things, this is the way to go. You have to have an open mind and patience though. People who are easily irritated should not shop a thrift store alone. Trust me I have seen women at thrift stores by themselves for the first time. It is not a pretty sight. They look lost and confused and you just want to give them a candy bar or something to distract their feelings of blah. It is so sad.

 I personally am the cheapest of the cheap. I am not cheap on quality. I do hold out for the better quality items, but even still, if I find the price a bit much. I will decline. The whole thing about thrifts stores is that you’ve got a good chance of finding the same thing over again somewhere else if you pass it up. Some things I do know are a once in a lifetime deal though. My most fabulous find yet is a pair of Michael Cors Bamboo Platform Wedge Heels for $4.00. They were probably worn once. Those shoes new were probably upwards of $100. or more. I usually won’t spend $4. on shoes, but these were a true find. A lot of times the higher end designer items are considered unknowns in the thrift store world. It takes a fashion worldly pricer/sorter to know what they’ve got. In this case, they just didn’t know. All of my Coach purses are from the thrift store. I don’t just buy any Coach purse either. Just because I see Coach in a thrift store, I don’t go crazy. Nine times out of ten the purses are in fabulous condition and depending on my mood, I will spend the money. Since Coach is a well known name, people know what they have and price it accordingly. The most I have ever spent on Coach is maybe $3.00. Trust me, there is a lot of Coach out there in thrift store land and you will see the prices range from $20-$60. Even at those prices, you are getting a deal.

 When you go to a thrift store it is best to have a plan. If you are going there for the first time, you should bring a friend. It helps if your friend is already into thrift stores, but if not, it is okay. Even two first timers would be able to be supportive of each other in this venture. If you go into a thrift store “blindly” you are just going to be too overwhelmed. You would probaly walk in then walk right out. Just like with anything new, it can be scary.

 Sometimes the word thrift store brings up images of well worn clothing, uncleanliness, and filth. Some thrift stores look more like boutiques or department stores. They are organized, clean, and some even have free coffee and donuts. Clothes are separated by category, size, and even color. But thrift stores are more than just clothing and shoes. You can find furniture, books, appliances, household goods, electronics, computers, jewelry, and even cars. Yes, even cars. The majority of thrift store items come via donation. People who donate are given a tax deductible form. This way they can claim it on their taxes as a write off. So the items that they want to make big claims on are high dollar items. Cars and boats bring in a good chunk of change. Sometimes you may get a fixer upper, but most of the time you get a good used car for much less than some private owners would sell.

Image via Wikipedia

 Some of the other items I mentioned like jewelry and computers are also great finds for shallow pockets. I love real silver jewelry. I can not get enough of the stuff. A lot of times the sorters and pricers are unaware of the jewelry they have and mark it according to whether they feel it will sell or not. In doing this they do not look closely enough at the marks on a piece. A lot of times, they don’t know what they are looking at anyway. When it comes to silver, real silver, they have a several different stampings to signify that it is real. If the sorters and pricers don’t know, they just don’t know. I have gotten a lot of beautiful pieces for under a dollar. They even have some jewelry that they sell in bulk just because they can not untangle it or whatever. Now a day you can sell scrap and broken gold or silver jewelry and make some money from your thrift store finds. I know I have.

 Computers. A lot of thrift stores now have people who are know how to work on computers. Most computers donated to thrift stores are just “older” versions. And just because they are “older” doesn’t mean that they don’t work. If you see a computer at the thrift store, they usually have them set up so that you can see they work. A lot of times you can buy a complete set up for under $200. That’s a great. I mean unless you are going to do some crazy high tech stuff. These computers will do the job. They are usually internet ready, have dvd/cd rom, have a version of Windows installed that might not be the newest, but just a step down, and are just the right thing if you want good basic capabilities.

 Did I mention discounts? Yes, even thrift stores have discounts. The volume of items donated can far surpass the amount sold. In this case thrift stores will have sales, clearances, and even sometimes free offers. Most thrift stores have a color tag, or day discount system. Depending on the color tag, or day is what your discount  will be. You may get 50% off the tag price, or maybe buy one get on free on Wednesday. Some places offer “bag sales”. This is where you are able to fill a bag up with anything in the store for a set price. Seasonal clearances are always happening and is the best way to save and get ready for the next year. Even better still is the “free table”. One of my favorite thrift stores has a free table. Yes, you can take whatever you want from that table. And boy, do they have some great stuff too. You just never know what you may find.

 So, if you have read this entire article, I suggest that you look up some of your local thrift stores and check them out. Not only will you find some great items, but you will be saving money. In the long run it will help out yourself and support your local thrift store. By doing this who knows what it will do for the economy

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Hi everyone! Have you ever been in Please Touch Museum's Kids Store? It’s one of my favorite places inside the museum. It is full of educational toys, new and classic children’s books, games, puzzles and other items that inspire natural wonder and creative play for babies, toddlers and kids of all ages.

I just saw my good friend Tucker Hager, Director of Retail Operations, and he told me all about the Kids Store and what’s available inside. I never knew so much work and thought went into the Kids Store! Here’s what he had to say:

“Here at Please Touch Museum, playtime doesn’t have to end after your visit to the museum. As a learning institution, we really hope that our visitors can recreate the natural wonder and creative play that their children experience at the museum, when they return home.

As part of Please Touch Museum’s non-profit status, it is essential that all the items in the store relate to the museum’s exhibits and learning through play philosophy. For example, many of the supplies for our process-oriented activities in the program room can be found in the store along with an extensive car selection which relates to our Roadside Attractions exhibit. We have a variety of costumes in the store which are wonderful for dress-up at home and encourage creativity through pretend play. Also, the classic children’s games are great ways for families to spend time together at home and create fun memories together.

The Kids Store has been a visitors favorite ever since it opened at the museum’s old home on 21st Street, and we are really excited about our new, bigger store and the opportunities we have as one of the only education-based stores in the region. We really hope everyone stops in when they visit and explores for themselves.”

Thanks Tucker! I’ll be sure to stop by more often!

Here are some great educational items available in the Kids Store:

Books

Rainforest
A Journey from the River to the Treetops
Joe Fullman

Now and Ben
The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin
Gene Barretts

Good Night Philadelphia
Adam Gamble & Cooper Kelly

A is for America
An American Alphabet
Author- Devin Scillian
Illustrator- Pam Carroll

D is for Drinking Gourd
An African American Alphabet
Author- Nancy Sanders
Illustrator- E.B. Lewis

P is for Pinata
A Mexican Alphabet
Author- Tony Johnston
Illustrator- John Parra

Puzzles by Melissa and Doug (ages 3-5)

Alphabet Train Floor Puzzle
Construction Floor Puzzle

Games (ages 5 and up)

I Spy Memory Game
A game of picture riddles

Quick Chess
The easiest way to learn chess

You can shop online at http://www.shoppleasetouchmuseum.org/

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’ve upgraded the Librarian Avengers shop, and cleaned up the products and metadata.

Because EVERYONE LOVES CLEAN METADATA!
Check it out.

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Debut Author of the Month: Donna Gephart...

Donna Gephart's first book As If Being 12¾ Isn't Bad Enough, My Mother Is Running for President! was released just days ago by Delacorte Press. Here she tells us a little about her first book, how she found her agent and shares her 10 Very Important Pieces of Advice for Unpublished Writers.

Just in case someone out there can’t get the gist of your book from its great title, please tell my readers about it.

Six-word alliterative version: Angst. Athletic (As if!). Assassination attempt.

Slightly longer version: Preparing for spelling bees, having a secret admirer, and waiting for her chest size to catch up with her enormous feet are pressure enough, but twelve-year-old Vanessa must also deal with loneliness and very real fears as her mother, Florida’s Governor, runs for President of the United States.

Tell me a little about your path to publication. How did you find your agent, Tina Wexler of I.C.M?

Several years ago, Tina put out a call for writers on the SCBWI Discussion Boards. I sent her the book I’d been working on and a cover letter, in which I wrote one sentence about a gawky, awkward spelling bee champ thrust into the spotlight because her mother is running for president. Although Tina didn’t think she could sell the book I’d sent, she did like my writing and expressed interest in my story about the girl whose mother is running for president.

Unfortunately, it was little more than a short story at the time. With Tina’s encouragement and that of my critique group, I turned that short story into a novel.

Tina had many revision suggestions, such as writing less about Vanessa’s romantic interest and more about the inside scoop on the political process. I did months more research, kept only the first two chapters of the original novel and rewrote the rest. Tina loved this version and sent it to seven publishing houses. She warned, “It might take several months till we hear anything.”

Three weeks later, I got The Call.

How did you feel when you got The Call?

I was in the middle of folding laundry (very glamorous, I know) when I saw the New York exchange on our phone’s caller I.D. I screamed, “It’s my agent. Everyone be quiet!” My son was the only one home at the time, and he was being quiet.

None-the-less, I locked myself in my closet and listened as my agent told me not one, but two editors were interested in my novel--one from Random House, the other from Scholastic. At the end of the day, Stephanie Lane from Delacorte Press, a division of Random House, sent me an e-mail telling me she was delighted to have acquired my novel.

Once your book was under contract with Delacorte, what was the editorial process like? Were there any surprises?

My experience working with my editor, Stephanie Lane, and the talented staff at Random House has been a dream come true. I learned that publishing and promoting a novel is truly a team effort.

Stephanie, of course, made excellent revision requests. This is the stage where larger issues are addressed. I added a minor character and made several changes.

Next, I was asked to go over the manuscript after a proofreader had made corrections. During this pass, I realized how many minor mistakes I hadn’t noticed. Oops!

Finally, I proofread the manuscript after it had been set for printing. I was surprised by how many new minor mistakes cropped up.

Also, it was great fun to have some say in choosing the cover model. (I don’t think this is typical.) I thought designer Kenny Holcolm did a fantastic job with my cover.

Why did you decide to use the world of election politics as a backdrop for your novel? Did anything in particular spark your book idea?

Writers are often told, “Write what you know.” I believe more in the adage: “Write what interests you, what sparks your passion.” Politics interested me and still does.

At the time, there weren’t many books for children about politics. I hoped my novel would be a fun introduction to the political process for young readers. In fact, if readers want to learn more about the president and the political process, I’ve included Web sites at the back of my book and on my Web site, www.donnagephart.com.

Do you have anything in common with your main character Vanessa other than your shoe size?

Besides having large feet, Vanessa and I both love the color purple, reading, playing Scrabble and hanging out with cute boys who have big hearts. (I married mine.)

On a deeper level, this novel is about Vanessa’s warm, caring relationship with her mother. Unfortunately, Mom’s obligations as a governor who is running for president keep their time together to a minimum. In the novel, Vanessa’s mother misses a very important spelling bee and is temporarily unavailable when Vanessa gets injured. My mother, on the other hand, attended all my school functions and was available for every important childhood event, but because she was a single parent who worked full-time, she was often too busy or tired for us to spend much time together. Vanessa’s feelings of loneliness came directly from my early childhood.

Does the fact that Hillary Clinton is in the Presidential race make you happy (in terms of your book sales of course)?

Wasn’t that thoughtful of Hillary Clinton to run for president the same year my book about a mother running for president was released?

You’ve done all sorts of writing including greeting cards, articles and essays. What led you to write for young readers?

I enjoy all kinds of humorous writing, but when I’m creating funny novels for tweens, I feel like my writing voice has found a home. Seeing my words on greeting cards and in magazines like Family Circle and Highlights for Children was thrilling, but being part of the amazing collection of literature for children is a true honor.

You read a lot of books in 2007. How do you decide which titles to pick up? Any favorites?

I pay attention to what people are talking/blogging about. I read reviews. I check the “new books” section of my local library obsessively.

Unfortunately, even though I spend most evenings reading, I never seem to make a dent in my growing pile of books I hope to read.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak made a big impression on me. It’s a sad, but wonderful novel narrated by Death.

But if I had to recommend one book that I read this past year, it would be The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie [which one the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2007]. This novel contains so many elements of excellent fiction. I learned about a different culture, and was moved to laughter and tears often. It’s a sparse, honest and moving read.

Lately you’ve attended an SCBWI conference in your home state of Florida and attended the ALA meeting at which the Newbery, Caldecott and other ALA awards were announced. Does it feel any different attending these events as a published author?

I was delighted when Random House sent me to my home city of Philadelphia to attend the ALA Midwinter Conference. It was exciting to talk with librarians, who were passionate about getting good books into the hands of young readers. And sitting in the audience while the Newbery, Caldecott, etc. awards were announced was surreal.

As far as the FL SCBWI conference . . . I’ve attended this wonderful conference, run by Linda Bernfeld, since it’s inception six years ago. It was an entirely different experience being behind the podium, speaking about being a first-time author, though, than sitting in the audience, listening. I was also able to give a workshop during the conference – a great experience for my first time presenting at a conference.

Both events were possible only because of the publication of my book, so I’m grateful for the new experiences I’m having.

Your book release date was just a few days ago (February 12). What have you done in the way of promotion?

I’m very lucky because Random House has an excellent publicity department, and the person in charge of promoting my book has been very busy. They’ve sent out review copies of my novel, written press releases and created “Mom for President” buttons to promote my novel. There is also a big promotion at www.itsafirst.net, where the novels of first-time authors are showcased.

On my own, I hired a Web site designer, Lisa Firke at www.hitthosekeys.com, to create my Web site, www.donnagephart.com. Seven months before my book’s release, I began a blog at www.donnagephart.blogspot.com. I’ve had business cards, postcards, T-shirts, etc. printed.

I’ve done some interviews and speaking at local schools as well.

You’ve spoken to groups about not giving up on their writing. Please offer some advice to unpublished writers.

10 Very Important Pieces of Advice for Unpublished Writers:

1. Turn off the TV. Open a book.
2. Write even on days when you don’t feel like it, especially on days when you don’t feel like it.
3. Find or start a critique group. (Try to give more than you take.)
4. First drafts are never as perfect as you think they are, nor are they as horrible. But they are all you need to begin revisions.
5. Don’t compare yourself with other writers. Write the best book, story, poem, etc. that YOU can write.
6. Revision is important. Um. Revision is vital to creating good writing. Er. Being willing to make significant revisions time and again will be the difference between being unpublished and being published. (That was certainly the case for me.)
7. Act professionally, whether you’ve been published or not, in all correspondence, submissions, etc.
8. Don’t write about what you think you should or what topic is hot at the moment. Write about what matters most to you.
9. Read my article, “Six Reasons You Should Quit Writing and One Very Important Reason You Shouldn’t!” in the 2009 CWIM.
10. Don’t listen to writing advice.

Good luck!

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Happy 2008! I hope everyone had a safe and joyous New Year! I am really excited for everything I have planned during the upcoming year. For starters, I’m continuing to improve upon and add different features to my website. I just recently discovered a site called cafepress.com which allows you to design all sorts of personalized things from T-shirts, to tote bags! I thought this was really neat since I like to design and create, and so I decided to open up my own Laura and the Leprechauns gift shop so you can browse my latest creations at your leisure. I will be updating designs and merchandise offered periodically, so if there is something specific you are looking for—a favorite character or slogan, or illustration from the book—please don’t hesitate to let me know. I would be happy to add it to future designs. Right now I think you’ll find that there is quite a wide variety of things to choose from. You can locate the gift shop directly at: http://www.cafepress.com/chrysalispress or access it through www.chrysalispress.com. Just select the “Gift Shop” button at the bottom of the page and it will redirect you to the store. I hope you will enjoy all the shop has to offer. As always I look forward to hearing your feedback and opinions, so feel free to drop me a line at [email protected]. I’ll be in touch soon!

Sincerely,

Amber

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OK, here's your big, last-night-of-Hanukkah present: an embeddable flash player so you can enjoy The Book of Life on your own web page, blog, or social network!

And to go with it, I've uploaded a bonus episode, "Meet Markus!" This is a live, unedited talk recorded at the independent bookstore Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida with Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief.

Let me tell you a little more about the new podcast player widget, provided by Big Contact (btw, I must tell you that they have excellent customer service! They were a huge help to me when I ran into trouble setting up this player!). The player you see here is just an image ... for the real player, please look on the sidebar to your right. ---->
(If you're not viewing this post at www.bookoflifepodcast.com, you can see the player here.)

You can scroll down the list of episodes and click on any title to play that show. The little tab with the musical notes will give you the Show Notes for that episode. The tab with the lines takes you back to the full list of all episodes. The + tab tells you how to subscribe to The Book of Life podcast. And the tab with the people on it helps you embed the player on your own site, as does the big button below the player that says "Play my show on your site."

Please do try out the new player, and consider putting it on your site to bring the show to an even wider audience! Let's get even more people excited about Jewish books, music, movies and web treasures!

As always, you can also click the play button on this old familiar flash player to listen to the podcast now:

Or you can click MP3 File to start your computer's media player.

Background music is provided by The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band.

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THE BOOK THIEF is one of the most memorable books I’ve read in a long time. It takes place during World War II in Molching, Germany. It’s the writing, the unusual narrator (death), and the characters sketched in vivid colors that make this novel so difficult to put down.

Meet Leisel, the book thief, who’s first encounter with death occurs on a train with her mama and brother – on their way to meet her foster parents.

Meet Rosa Hubermann, Leisel’s new mama, whose rough crude exterior can’t hide the heart inside.

Meet Hans Hubermann, Leisel’s firm foundation. The man who stays up with her after her nightmares, who teaches her to read her first stolen book, who finds empathy in a slice of stale bread.

Meet Max, a Jew, the shadow in the basement, a skeleton later seen marching, or more aptly, stumbling down the road.

Meet Rudy, the lemon-haired Jesse Owens, Leisel’s partner in crime and best friend, the one who yearns for Leisel’s kiss.

Meet the Führer, the invisible, potent master of words.

Meet death, in a metal cockpit, on a snow-covered field mottled in red, hanging from a rafter at the end of a rope, sitting at a simple kitchen table, under a pile of rubble that used to be a home.

Markus Zusak fills the reader with vivid images of humans at war, humans led to the unthinkable by a force they cannot control. Some go willingly, others have no choice. Those left behind are merely attempting to survive each day as life crumbles around them. Leisel survives by stealing books.

As I read the final chapters of THE BOOK THIEF, I literally had to close the book to get my emotions under control before reading on to meet death. It was inevitable, he would meet me at the end of the book. As I emerged from the story at the turning of the back cover, my reality felt so jarringly wrong. It was as though I went from a black and white silent movie to a new world, bright, free, and colorful. You cannot read this novel without feeling a resounding resolve that this should never-ever happen again.

The writing is incredible. Mr. Zusak gave death such an unusual perspective. His descriptive phrases are nothing short of brilliant. THE BOOK THIEF is a powerful read that should not be missed by anyone, teen or adult!

This review can also be found here at Teens Read Too.

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Laini Taylor has an excellent post on an appearance by Markus Zusak at a high school in her area. Among the juiciest bits:

Zusak says that there were many writing students who were better than he was when he was in college, but he doesn't think any of them are still writing. Laini says she's had a similar experience as an art student. I've often wondered, myself, if perhaps the finest, most talented writers in the world were never published simply because they gave up. Laini describes the perseverance that keeps some people going while others quit as motivation or vocation. I've always liked the expression fire in the belly.

Zusak also described how many times he rewrote the first 90 pages of The Book Thief and how at the 250 page point he realized something was wrong, fixed it, and rewrote the whole thing again. For those of us who have trouble getting through a first draft without all kinds of stops and starts, reading that was very comforting.

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Markus Zusak on leaving home

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If you write for young people, consider this LJ post a big, fat thank you note (virtual chocolates and ice cream, too). I just finished reading my 7th graders' final exams. I ask them to write an essay reflecting on how they've grown as readers, writers, and human beings this year. Here's a quote from K...

"In the beginning of the year, I didn't like to read at all. But then my teacher showed me all these books that were for me, and I couldn't stop reading."

Books that were for her.  Written just for her.  Or at least it felt that way.  She went on to talk about Sonya Sones, Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Nancy Werlin -- voices that spoke to her over the past ten months. 

And K wasn't the only one who named names as she reflected on books that made a difference this year.  My kids talked about finding themselves in the characters of Pete Hautman, Janet Tashjian, Jack Gantos, Laurie Halse Anderson, Lisa Yee, Sharon Creech, Jerry Spinelli, Wendelin Van Draanen, David Lubar, Cynthia Kadohata, Mal Peet, and Walter Dean Myers.  They wrote about being challenged by M.T. Anderson, Richard Preston, and Markus Zusak.  They wrote fondly about escaping into the worlds of Margaret Peterson Haddix, Christopher Paolini, and JK Rowling.  And they reflected on walking a mile in someone else's shoes as they read Gene Luen Yang, Cynthia Lord, Will Hobbs, Jennifer Roy, and Joseph Bruchac.

I write for kids.  I know that some days, it feels like you're alone with your computer, and even your computer doesn't  like you very much. So I thought I'd share K's reflection on her year of reading.  We all need to realize when we write, we're writing for someone important.  Someone like K, who's waiting for a book that's just for her, just for him.  

If you write for kids, that's the work you're doing every day.  You may never get to read the end-of-the-year essays, but you should know that you make a difference, and you're appreciated.

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Two words:
Markus.
Zusak.

Man, I wish I had a name like that. Mine has all those bouncing syllables and stuff. His...simple bookends. Now we all know Mr. Zusak's THE BOOK THIEF - which was a wonderful read and I enjoyed it for all the praise-worthy reasons.

BUT - having just finished I AM THE MESSENGER I have to stand up and cheer - and hand out recommendations to anyone looking for a mysteryious, thoughtful, deeply funny first person narrative. I don't pretend to be a "reviewer" so I'll keep my horn-tootin' to this:

Read it. All the way to the last words that gave me chills.

On a related note: I didn't READ it. I listened to it on a car ride my son and I took last weekend to New Hampshire and back. Both myself and my 13 year old were captivated by the story that features a 19 year old deadbeat of a main character and a coffee drinking dog and a mystery involving 12 playing cards.

I drove him to and from school all this past week so we could listen to the chapters - we drove in silence as the story continued to hold us and make us laugh and smile...and think. We finally finished the book in our driveway - and since the main character Ed is a cabdriver - there was something fitting about it.

Read it. Or listen to it, which for me was a delight because Mr. Zusac is Australian and the actor who read the book was an Aussie giving the flavor of the story with his accent. (I love an Australian accent - and this guy was great!)

And now...I mow my lawn.

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Yes, it's time for another Google Ping where we post a children's author's name over and over again to see how long it takes them to either: a) Google themself and find me, or b) find out through the grapevine that they have been Google Pinged.

We'll see who is the fastest of all the authors to answer the Google Ping. The author must respond in the Comment section of the entry and somehow identify themself as being who they really are.

The current leader is Lisa Yee with 3 hours 5 minutes with John Green's time of 42 minutes still in contention as he posted anonymously. The judges have determined that if John Green acknowledges the Google Ping on Brotherhood 2.0 today that the record time will stand.

Markus Zusak, the author of The Book Thief is the next up.



Here we go:

Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak, Markus Zusak,

Since Mr. Zusak lives in Australia and they look at their clocks upside down, I've decided to start this Google Ping in the morning rather than in the afternoon. And the clock has begun at 9:33am EST on 5/4/2007.

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